Martín Espada is widely recognized as "the Latino poet of his generation." Born in 1957 in Brooklyn, N.Y., Espada is described as a powerful poet who draws upon deep compassion and a sense of history. His seventh collection, "Alabanza: New and Selected Poems (1982-2002)," published by Norton in 2003, received the Paterson Award for Sustained Literary Achievement and was named an American Library Association Notable Book of the Year.

Much of Espada's writing arises from his Puerto Rican heritage and his work experiences, ranging from bouncer to tenant lawyer. He is also the editor of "Poetry Like Bread: Poets of the Political Imagination" (Curbstone Press). Espada is a professor in the Department of English at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, where he teaches creative writing, Latino poetry and the work of Pablo Neruda.